County Cesspool & Drain Cleaning Inc.

Review: Almost a year ago, 6/**/2913, I had a new septic system installed by County Cesspool & Drain Cleaning. See attached receipt of what they should have installed.

Phone # ###-###-####

Name: [redacted] and [redacted] (excavator operator)

Receipt # [redacted]

I paid [redacted] $6000 in cash the day they finished the job. Since then and because they did not do a good job they had to come back to my house for repairs four (4) times. We are always experiencing the same problem, water coming into the basement from around the main septic pipe (cast iron pipe) going outside the house.

The first time [redacted] came to fix the problem he put something called Dryloc Fast Plug Hydraulic Cement around the plastic fitting and pipe (pictures 1, 2 and 3 that show the plastic they used and how he tried to fix the problem the first time).

A day or two later and after we had water into the basement again [redacted] came for a second time. This time he poured concrete around the pipe and said that this would solve the problem (picture 4). Please consider that I had to dig an area (5 feet long x 2 feet wide x 3 feet deep) to go down halfway to the pipe before [redacted] came to do the rest (dig maybe 3 feet deeper). [redacted] asked me if I could dig and remove the dirt so that he can finish quickly when he was going to come and I did it.

A few days later (maybe a week later) the same problem appeared and then [redacted] came for a third time with another person and this time he replaced the plastic fitting connecting the cast iron pipe to the main line going to the septic tank with a rubber boot and said this would solve the problem. He also asked me to purchase from Home Depot foam that expands and put around it - (which I did) so I purchased that and used it as he asked. It is very important to note at this point that when they installed the rubber boot apparently they failed to tight the clumps (the proof for this is when he came back a fourth time-see below for details)

From that point until yesterday it was ok. Although my wife kept complaining that when she was doing laundry a lot of water was staying in the washing machine, since we did not see any water coming from that spot around the cast iron pipe into the basement we didn't think that something was wrong.

Yesterday though (5-*-2014) we saw again water from the same spot coming into the basement. So I called again [redacted], and [redacted] with one of his employees came today 5-*-2014.

This time he came with a small tractor/digger and was able to dig better around the pipe, as opposed to other times that we had to dig it by hand, and found out that: a) the main line was broken in 2 places and b) also found out that the clamps/rings on the rubber boot were loose.

Because there was a lot of water coming back from the septic tank [redacted] had to dig further towards the septic tank. When he removed the cover of the septic tank we saw a lot of water at one side (towards the house) and we realized that the septic tank was sitting at an angle towards the house (had a wrong pitch) and when he removed the second cover we clearly saw the septic tank full on one side and half empty on the other side. So then we also saw the drain pipes going to the two septic pools that they were much higher than the main line so that the water could not drain into the pools.

[redacted] was also very upset because he was doing all the work and called [redacted], the person who came with the excavator the first time, when they installed the rings and septic tank, to tell him that the problem was big and asked him to come to correct it. He told him that the septic tank had a pitch towards the house and that the overflow pipes were installed wrong and they are at a much higher point than the inlet pipe. [redacted] said something to the extend, the tank has the wrong pitch and the water runs towards the house as if it’s on a race truck man, the water is coming out like crazy. From what [redacted] told me, [redacted] told him that he could not come and that there is no big problem with the system. When I asked [redacted] if [redacted] was going to be able to come at all, he said he is not sure if he is going to come and if when he will come. I told [redacted] that this is not right and that we must correct this problem immediately and [redacted] told me, good luck getting [redacted] here, if I ask him again he will be upset and won’t come at all. Then I asked [redacted] to give me [redacted]’s phone number so that I could talk to him and ask him to come because this is an emergency and he has to correct the problem immediately. [redacted] gave me [redacted]'s phone number and I called. There was no good connection and I could barely hear who was at the other end of the line - I thought it was his son and they were driving and when I told him to give me [redacted] I heard something like, he cannot be on the phone now. So I told the other person on the line that [redacted] should come and correct the problem because is an emergency and that is not right to say that he cannot come or talk to me. I told the person that if he does not come then I would have to take other action like calling a lawyer or the police. The person at the other end of the line told me that he was not [redacted]’s son and that she was his wife and that [redacted] was going to call me back soon and hang up.

Then [redacted] called [redacted], not me, and said again that he couldn't make it to my house until Tuesday because he was at another job. When I told [redacted] that we cannot have this situation like this and that somebody had to correct the problem and that I could not wait until Tuesday, [redacted] called again and [redacted] agreed to come just to see what's going on.

When [redacted] came he told me that he could only come on Tuesday and that he was only going to make new holes on the septic tank and only lower the overflow pipes going to the pools. He also said that he would then make new holes lower on the rings of the pools and just lower the pipes.

I told [redacted] that this is not right/correct and I cannot accept it and that he had to remove the septic tank and the rings and install them properly meaning dig a little deeper so that the septic tank sits level/flat parallel to the ground and sit a little lower and also dig and put the rings of the pools lower so that the pipes have the proper angle. As is now the septic tank sits at an angle towards the house and if he lowers the pipes going to the pools then I will have a septic tank that is not used properly plus risk having the septic tank sink lower at one side and have another problem again maybe a few years from now. Also this is not per Suffolk County Brookhaven town code. The septic tank must be flat and not have a pitch towards the house. Also by lowering only the pipes by making new holes on the rings I will not get the same capacity from the overflow pools. I paid for 2 pools with 3 rings and 2 rings and if he does what he said then 1 ring almost for each pool is going to be useless. I paid a lot of money to have this because I am thinking of making an extension to the house and I asked them to make everything per code so that I don’t have any problems in the future, so if [redacted] does what he said then I will have problems. When I said this to [redacted] he got upset and he waved his hands and he cursed at me (called me a jerk) and said that I don't know what I am talking about and that this is not my job and that I am not going to tell him how to do his job. He also said that there is no way in hell I am going to remove the rings and tank to dig lower. He also told me that he will either do it his way or he will do nothing at all and if he comes on Tuesday I shouldn’t give him hard time because he will come with many of his guys. [redacted] also told me “you are going to go after a business that no longer exists, you think I care?”. When I agreed with [redacted] to do the job he told me that whoever was going to come and work was licensed and insured.

[redacted] at first he was saying that [redacted] should do the correct thing and dig deeper so that the septic tank sits lower and level because it’s the right way and also move the rings accordingly but when [redacted] came and they talked he changed attitude and said that they can only move the pipes lower. I am not sure why he changed attitude but he had mentioned that he did not want to upset [redacted] because they do business together and if [redacted] was upset he wouldn’t work with him.

I told them that all I am asking is for them to do the job the right way because I paid for a job to be done the right way, and if they don't do it correct then I will talk to my lawyer and report them to consumer affairs and business of better bureau. [redacted] said I don’t give a [redacted] what you do and left.

When I spoke to [redacted] one more time I told him that I did business with him and I paid him and not [redacted] so I wanted him to make things right. I also asked him if he was in my position what he would do but he did not say anything. [redacted] then said again that “we will only move the pipes for you we are not going to take the septic tank or the rings out, if you don’t like it then report us or talk to your lawyer”.

I paid a lot of money to have a new septic system installed per Suffolk County town of Brookhaven code but [redacted] from County Cesspool never did it correct. I also paid a lot of money for top soil, for leveling my yard and for putting down new grass. Everything is destroyed now, my yard, the grass, the top soil because of the leaking pipe and the wrongly installed system is full with scam, sludge and smells, there is no grass, and I cannot even use the cesspools. My kids cannot play in the yard because it is dangerous. How can they go out and play when the dirt smells and has scam and sludge from the cesspool that leaked and is all over the place?

I lost days from my vacation days from work in order to be home because of these problems, we couldn't and we cannot properly do laundry, wash the dishes or take showers because of these problems. Every time we had water into the basement we had to wait for them to come and do something (because they never actually fixed the problem) and so we couldn't and cannot properly use the system. This causes a lot of aggravation and a lot of frustration and stress to my-self and family. It is also a big hazard because I don’t know if the other pipes are broken or if the rings were installed properly since he did not even install the septic tank properly. Actually I am not even sure if he installed what I paid him to install, and what is shown on the receipt. The way they left the yard is also dangerous for my kids because they also left rocks and a piece of plastic pipe so I cannot let them play.

Please do something to help us. The law must protect people. Thank you.

Attached are pictures and the receipt. I also have videos of the yard and the water coming from around the pipe inside the house. I have cesspool water inside my basement!!!!! We have a system for which we paid a lot of money and we cannot use, we have a yard we paid a lot of money to make level and nice that we cannot use and is also dangerous full of sm, sludge and rocks and plastic pipes. If I bring another company to re-do the system I will pay for the system + to bring top soil + to level the yard + grass.

I want County Cesspool to either re-do the system from scratch by removing everything and installing everything properly per Suffolk County town of Brookhaven code or pay for somebody else to do it per code and pay for top soil + level my yard + grass

Picture 1 shows how they originally connected the cast iron pipe coming from the house to the plastic pipe going to the septic tank. (This is the main line which we realized the [redacted] time they came that was broken in 2 places)

Picture 2 shows what [redacted] used the first time he came to the house to “correct/fix” the problem

Picture 3: after the application of the Drylok shown in picture 2. [redacted] said that this would solve the problem!!! This is the first time that [redacted] came to my house to correct the problem.

Picture 4 shows the cement that [redacted] used the second time he came to “correct/fix” the problem.

Unfortunately I don’t have any pictures of the 3rd time [redacted] came to correct the problem and broke the concrete and installed the rubber boot. I accidentally deleted them from my cell phone.

Picture that shows the leak in my basement around the cast iron pipe that goes outside and connects to the plastic pipe that goes to the septic tank.

Picture that shows the leak in my basement from the poor cesspool installation job.

This is my front yard today after paying so much money!!!!!!

sm and sludge all over my front yard!!!!!!!! No more top soil no more grass.

Plastic pipe in my front yard!!!!!!!!

Rocks and other things (sludge and sm) in my front yard!!!!!!!

Receipt: After paying $6,000 cash for a new cesspool system I got all the above!!!!!!!! + money for top soil + money to level the yard + money for grass and so on……Desired Settlement: I would like for them to re-do the job the correct way. Take the septic tank out and dig deeper to put it level having the correct pitch/angle and also do the same thing for the cesspools. In addition since they destroyed my front yard I would like for them to bring top soil, level the yard and also put grass down. Also I would like for them to clean the cast iron pipe coming from inside the house to outside main line because I am sure there must be a lot of thing and it will eventually have problem since the water from the septic tank was coming back to my house.

Business

Response:

As far as [redacted] complaint. This matter has has been taken care of on 5/**/14.

Thank You,

[redacted]

[redacted]

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

I am still waiting for them to come and level my yard and bring top soil and put down grass.

Thank you

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

On June [redacted] 2014 we went to [redacted] home and installed topsoil and seed. The job is now completed.

Sincerely,

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.

Sincerely,

[redacted] came and resolved the problem.

Thank you